MHAC celebrates Annual Day
Justice A S Anand calls for value-based new social order

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 7: Justice Dr Adarsh Sen Anand, former Chief Justice of India has called for laying firm foundations through proper education for building a new social order based on value-based society by young boys and girls who are citizens of tomorrow.

Speaking at the Annual Day function of the Maharaja Hari Singh Agricultural Collegiate (MHAC) school, at Nagbani today, Dr Anand who is also president of LMC, said primarily it is at the elementary schools that qualities of value-based system are acquired by the students. Education, he said, is more than mere passing the examination but building up mental, physical and moral qualities.

Eulogising India’s rich heritage, Dr Anand opined that it should be blended suitably with the modernity for imparting proper education with old moral values. The high moral values have to be incorporated in our education system to act like anti-pollution devices for keeping the standard and moral environ clean for our youth.

In the highly competitive world of today, the student have not only to be best but the best, he stressed.

He praised the turnout and the presentation of the cultural programme by the students of MHAC. Expressing satisfaction over their good academic achievements, he asked them to do still better.

In his presidential address at the function, Justice N C Kochhar, ex-judge of Delhi High Court and vice-chairperson of DAV Schools, Delhi lauded the track record of MHAC and the presentation of the programme by the students today.

The Principal, MHAC, Mr B R Gupta presented annual report highlighting the activities and achievements of this institution. He made mention of the distinctive record achieved by the students in various spheres.

He said with the help of a child-centered futuristic and value-based education, we strive to produce successful citizens for the new millennium. " 55 students who passed out of this school have found place in professional institutions like RECs, NDA and medical colleges.

On the academic as well as extra-curricular fronts the students made a singular mark. Aksay Bhat secured first position, Chavvi Gupta got second while Neha Thukral was third in X CBSE Board examination of 2000 session. Yogeshwar Gupta and Tanya Vaid were 4th.

Mrs Mala Anand distributed prizes among the students for excelling in the academic and other extra-curricular activities during the past one year.

The students presented an impressive cultural programme which was applauded. The function was attended by members of Managing Committee, academicians, parents, prominent citizens, staff and students.

Earlier, the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh was garlanded before commencement of the programme. Prof Inderjit Singh presented vote of thanks.

HC directive to indicate steps for alternative
road to HC complex

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 7: Justice T S Doabia of the State High Court has directed the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to indicate the steps for the alternative approach road for High Court Complex at Janipura.

While passing the directions in the much publicised Traffic regulation case, the Justice asked the Divisional Commissioner to indicate the steps on the next date of hearing, which was fixed by the Court. The Justice directed the Registry to send a copy of this order to the Principal District and Sessions Judge Jammu, who would see to it that with regard to the cases covered by the direction given by this court (in case of removal of encroachment) to the Municipal and other authorities, no interim order would be passed. Any order passed by the concerned Judicial Officer would be taken serious note of.

The Court said that the attention of the Judicial Officer would be brought to the decision of the Supreme Court whereby it has been observed that when a position in law is well settled as a result of the judicial pronouncement of this court, it would amount to judicial propriety to say the least for the subordinate courts including the High Courts to ignore the settled decision and then to pass a judicial order which is clearly contrary to the settled legal position. "Such judicial adventurism cannot be permitted and we strongly deprecate the tendency of the Subordinate Courts in not applying the settled principles and in passing whimsical order which necessarily has the effect of granting wrongful and unwarranted relief to one of the party. It is time that this tendency stops".

These directions and observations have been passed in a PIL filed by one Prabhat Singh through Advocate Romesh Arora whereby the petitioner seeks directions to various departments.

Massive construction of community halls
and town halls on anvil: Shah

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec. 7: The Government has released Rs 12.09 crore Under the 10th Finance Commission Award for taking up comprehensive programme under the community development works which include construction of town halls, community halls, shopping complexes through local bodies in the State. This has enabled the construction and renovation of 43 town and community halls, 300 shop sites and commercial places in the State.

This was stated by Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah while talking to a deputation led by MLA Abdul Wahid Shan who called on him here today to discuss the various schemes in the local bodies sector. The Minister said that out of total amount received under 10th Finance Commission Award, Rs 4.56 crore have been provided to the local bodies of Kashmir Division and Rs 3.98 crore to local bodies in Jammu while the rest of amount have been provided to the Municipalities of Srinagar and Jammu.

Mr. Shah said that in Kashmir division upgradation and renovations of town halls at Bandipora, Budgam, Shopian, Sopore and Anantnag have been completed, whereas town halls at Ganderbal, Pampore, Magam, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Tangmarg and Uri are at the final stage of the construction.

Besides the Minister said that Rs 3.27 crore were being utilized on the construction of shopping complexes in 18 small and medium towns of Kashmir division. These shopping complexes are being constructed at Bandipora, Sumbal, Handwara, Tangmarg, Pahalgam, Pattan and other small and medium towns.

Referring to the development in Jammu division, the Minister said that the renovation and upgradation of town halls at Doda, Udhampur, Nowshera and Kathua have been completed whereas the construction of town halls at Akhnoor, Basholi, Sunderbani, Reasi, Billawar, Banihal, Khore, Thanna Mandi, Chenani, Hiranagar and Poonch have been taken up in hand for construction. He said the shopping complexes comprising 5 shops each are under construction at Akhnoor, Ramban, Bishnah, Kishtwar, Basholi, Sunderbani, Hiranagar, Ramnagar, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Jorian, Samba and Bhaderwah. These shopping complexes when completed will be allotted to the weaker sections of the society so that they could run their own business, the Minister added.

Reacting to the demands of the MLA for conferring Notified Area Committee status to Gool and Arnas villages, the Minister said that the J&K Municipal Act 2000 have been enacted for creation of Municipal Corporation in the cities having more than five lakhs population, Municipal Councils in the cities and towns having population from 15,000 souls and less than five lakhs population while the Town Area Committees in the urban areas having population upto 50,000 souls. The Minister said that the new villages will be covered under NACs and town area committees if these villages have the population required under the Municipal Act 2000 to declare the villages under the NACs..

The Minister said that State is a expecting an allocation of Rs 15.93 crore under the 11th Finance Commission Award. This amount will be utilized for creation of data bank relating to local bodies and for creation of remunerative assets in the town area committees and Notified Area Committees and Municipality so as to make these institutions self sustainable.

A deputation of people for Panjthirthi Jammu led by Mr. Kasturi Lal also called on the Minister and presented their demands for upgradation of lanes and drains, installation of street lights and beautification of Mubarak Mandi Park area. The Minister directed the Administrative Jammu Municipality, Mr. K.B. Jandial to take effective steps for redressal of their genuine demands.

Slathia inaugurates 2 PHC’s in Hiranagar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 7: The Minister for Power, Mr. S.S. Slathia inaugurated two Primary Health Centres at Rattanpur and Bhagia in Hiranagar tehsil yesterday.

These primary health centres have been constructed under the Border Area Development programme. The primary health centre at Rattanpur has been constructed at a cost of Rs 39.70 lakh while the primary health centre at Bhagia has cost of Rs 6.50 lakhs.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Slathia reiterated the government’s resolve for providing basic amenities of life to the people especially those living in remote and far-flung areas of the State. For this purpose, numerous schemes and programmes were under execution in different parts of the State, he added. He advised the people to take maximum benefit of the government schemes launched for the development of the poor and downtrodden.

The Minister, who is also chairman of the District Development Board Kathua, said that the district administration was aware to the problems faced by the people in the far-flung areas and assured that every effort will be made to mitigate these.

District Development Commissioner, Kathua, Mr. B.D. Sharma, MLA, Hiranagar, Mr. Prem Lal, Deputy Director Health Jammu, Chief Medical Officer, Kathua and other district officers were present on the occasion.

Bring back nation’s smile, Harbans asks educationists

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 7: The Minister for Labour and Employment, S. Harbans Singh today said that education is the only tool that spreads enlightenment and shuns the darkness of ignorance.

Addressing teacher’s fraternity at the All India Kendriya Vidyalaya Teachers Association on regional convention here today, the Minister asked that teachers to strike a balance between value based education and intellectual education. A harmonious blending of the two would bring back our lost pride and glory, he said.

Mr. Singh appealed to the teachers to impart education with zeal and dedication. Love and compassion coupled with clarity of thought are the essentials required of an ideal teacher and these can transform the posterity towards construction of a progressive civilized society, he added.

Replying to the question, "Where has our national smile gone? and has some one stolen our national smile?" , he said that lack of coordination between the management and the teachers has given rise to this problem. He asked people to revert back to the Gurukula traditions where benevolence, obedience, sincerity of thought, faithfulness, honesty and above all intimate relationship was the core of the system. Spirituality comprised the gist of their preaching. Striking a balance between spiritualism and modernization alone could bring back our national smile; he answered while, quoting Swami Vivekananda’s lines of "Going Back to Vedas".

Mr. Singh said that the teacher student ratio in classes must be brought to desirable levels and tuition culture discouraged, which is widely prevalent in the society.

Among others Station Director Radio Kashmir Jammu, Mr. Ashok Jerath, Assistant Commissioner Kendriya Vidayala Sangathan, Mr. S.K. Verma, President Low Paid Employees, Mr Abdul Majid, General Secretary All India K.V. Teachers Association, Mr. G.K. Kampasi, Vice President AIKVT Association, Mrs. D.K. Bhatti and Principal Kendriya Vidayala Jammu, Mr. B. D. Sharma presented their papers on innovative techniques of imparting education to the students besides giving suggestions on harmonizing teacher management relationship.

Nirankari Mandal to hold Sant Samagam

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 7: Sant Nirankari Mission is holding a Sant Samagam at Parade Ground Jammu on Dec 9 from 10 am to 2 pm under the auspicious of Satguru Baba Hardev Singhji Maharaj.

According to a release, Babaji is a true master and a spiritual guide. For him man as such is important and all men are members of vast human family. He does not believe in changing label but of the content spiritual transformation.

Sant Nirankari Mission in real sense is a mission of peace and universal brotherhood, doing lot for service of uplifting suffering humanity. The Mission has already emerged as the largest single voluntary blood donor in the country. In 2001, it has organised about 120 such camps all over the country. It is running 106 charitable dispensaries, one full fledged hospital in Delhi, a mini-hospital in Channai and more than 20 tailoring and embroidery centres , a degree college and several senior secondary and public schools.

In the Vishal Sant Samagam, Baba Hardev Singhji would address the gathering at Parade Ground on Sunday (Dec 9). A large number of people from the region and adjoining states of Punjab and Himachal are expected to participate.

Justice Anand teaches ABCD of education

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 7: Former Chief Justice Dr A S Anand had a word of advice for the students of Nagbani school here, where he tried to make them the real receptors for acquiring Education.

At the annual day function of MHAC Students at Nagbani today, Dr Justice Anand referred to the basics for imbibing the qualities. From the Supreme Court complex, it was a class-room environment for the former Chief Justice when he uttered the first four alphabets of English while stopping at "E" to denote that it stands for Education.

But to acquire Education, the first four alphabets——from A to D were very important. That is what Dr Justice Anand as a teacher had to convey. "A" stands for Attitude suitable for each other and the country; "B" denoted Bravery and Boldness; "C" conveyed strong Character and sound Courage, while "D" brings Discipline, Decorum and Decency. And if the students imbibe these four qualities, "E" as Education comes automatically to them.

The former Chief Justice of Supreme Court received tremendous applause for his speech from the academicians, Educationists, students and their parents who had gathered at the Annual Day function of the school of which Dr Justice Anand is the Chairman.

Forester, BDO in Vigilance net

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 7: The State Vigilance Organisation has booked Mr Abdul Majid, Forester, Peerpanchal, Division, District Budgam and Wali Mohammed Bhat , Block Development Officer, Langate in District Kupwara of North Kashmir respectively.

The duo have been booked under FIR No 29/2001 and 30/2001 under section 5(2) Prevention of Corruption Act.

In the FIR No 29/2000 it has been claimed by one Ghulam Ahmed Ganai that Forester Abdul Majid had taken Rs 7,000 as illegal gratification from his wife. The complaint alleged that the official had visited his house in his absence and enquired about the timber lying in the vicinity there.

Despite production of valid documents by her regarding the timber, she was harassed. The forester took Rs 7,000 from her as gratification.

The FIR in the Vigilance Organisation was lodged on the basis of facts ascertained in the preliminary investigations.

The another FIR has been registered after conducting of a preliminary enquiry in a complaint alleging misappropriation of funds in the execution of developmental works in Block Langate of District Kupwara by the Block officials.

The enquiry revealed that the BDO concerned had made excess payment of Rs 47,918 in the construction of a road. Even the work had not been carried out as per the agreement.

In another work relating to improvement of a ‘Khul’ an amount of Rs 49,500 was released in absence of the test check certificate. In view of the allegations which have been established, the Vigilance Organisation registered a FIR against the BDO for thorough probe.

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